June 2, 2011, Bobby Parnell story for Metro NYC Newspaper
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The Mets and Bucs close out their set today at 1:10 (SNY).
Bobby Parnell felt the reporters closing in on his locker before last night’s late game with Pittsburgh.
“I [haven’t] done anything,” the reliever said.
That’s not entirely true.
For a team that is dreadfully shorthanded and appears to be for the foreseeable future, the return of Parnell from the disabled list was welcome news for the Mets. The hard-throwing right handed reliever was called up from Triple-A Buffalo Tuesday after proving that he has overcome a blood clot that caused him to miss 36 games to add an arm to what has been a strength for a team that is forced to mix-and-match on a daily basis due to myriad injuries.
What he brings to the table is something that the Mets’ pitching staff does not possess in mass quantities: A dominant fastball. Radar guns routinely record Parnell’s fastball in the high 90s and he has broken 100 MPH on more than one occasion. He estimated before Wednesday night’s 9-3 loss to the Pirates at Citi Field that “in the last two weeks” he began to regain the hard fastball. “I’m still in the rebuilding process and feel like I have some work to do,” Parnell offered.
His biggest asset is also a flaw. Parnell has struggled with his control at the major league level. In 124 games spanning the 2008-through-2011 seasons, Parnell is 4-10 with a save and six blown saves. His ERA is 4.69 and opponents are hitting .283 against him. Not good numbers for anyone, much less someone the organization hopes can be the bridge to Francisco Rodriguez now, and in the future, a possible closer.
But what has been frustrating to both the player and the franchise is Parnell’s ability to channel is inner Nuke Laloosh at the most inopportune times. In the Mets in Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh, Parnell surrendered two hits, two runs and a walk, while throwing 32 pitches to six batters in two-thirds of an inning.
“I was a little pumped up, ready to go,” Parnell said yesterday. “When I look back on (Tuesday), maybe the outcome (stunk) but it was progress.”
“He has to command it. That’s the big step for anybody. I don’t care if you throw 100 or 82, you have to command your pitches,” added Terry Collins. “I’m glad the velocity is back because that’s a big start to him having the success we see him (having) here. Now that that’s back up to where it needs to be, once he gets the command of it he’ll be truly effective.”
Following treatment of the clot, the Mets sent Parnell to Single-A Port St. Lucie and Buffalo in order for him to work his way back to the major league level. He was 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in nine appearances before being called up Tuesday.
And it seems like the organizational mandate is for Parnell to work on his control at Citi Field with pitching coach Dan Warthen. Warthen has been the Mets pitching coach throughout Parnell’s tenure.
“If there’s one guy who knows him very well, it’d be Dan. I think Dan would probably, what they call ‘touch and feel’ (today) and work on a couple things to make sure we concentrate on attacking the strike zone,” Collins said. “The leadoff hitter (Tuesday) went 0-2, threw two outstanding fastballs, (then) looked up and it’s 3-2. You have to put those guys away. I’m sure they’ll work on it.
“We’ll talk to him about settling down and throwing some pitches over the plate. Because that’s what, ultimately, got him back here.”
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/877520--mets-still-counting-on-parnell--page0
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:49 AM
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